African violet plant named Libra

ABSTRACT

An African violet plant named Libra, characterized by its single solid purple flowers; upright flower stems curving toward the center; profuse flowering; vigorous growth habit; very attractive girl-type leaves, round, slightly serrated with a small light green center; long lasting and non-dropping flowering habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Libra.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation G17/1, and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by applicantin a controlled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany.The female, or seed parent was a cultivar designated D150/4 red girl.The male, or pollen parent was a cultivar designated 7/78 Burgundy.

Libra was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Haffen,Federal Republic of Germany. Asexual reproduciton of the new cultivar byleaf cuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, Federal Republic ofGermany, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduciton.

Libra has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotpye may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin 10 cm pots in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Libra which in combination distinguish thisAfrican violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Strong upright flower stems curving toward the center.

2. Long-lasting, non-dropping, single solid purple flowers.

3. Each plant carries 8 or more upright flower stems, each of whichcarries 7 to 9 flowers.

4. Profuse flowering.

5. Seed capsule pushes through.

6. Vigorous grower.

7. Plant saleable 9-10 weeks after potting.

8. Very attractive girl-type leaf, round, slightly serrated with a smalllight green center.

9. After maturity, the flowers dry off and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of the type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Soceity Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural light conditions at approximately 1:00 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.Under color growing conditions and more intensive lighting, the purplecolor becomes more intense.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., cv. Libra.

Parentage:

Male parent.--3/78 Burgundy.

Female parent.--D150/4 red girl.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 10 cm to 11 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately18-20 cm in diameter when fullyb grown. The growth rate is vigorous.

Leaves.--Shape: Very round, girl-type. Diameter: 55-65 mm. Texture:Velvety, shiny. Ribs and Veins: Upperside visible, underside very wellpronounced, light green and shiny; purplish on the very young leaves.Color (upper side): Green 139A. Color (under side): Yellow-green 148D.Petioles: Strong, upright, light green with purplish red touch on sidetoward flowers, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Purple, bell-shaped, 8-9 mm just before opening. Sepals:Five (5) in number, purple-green. Calyx: Funnel-shaped. Aspect:Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Strong, upright, purplish brown, hairy.

Individual flowers.--Size: 35 to 40 mm. Shape: Conventional, singleviolet-shaped; 3 large and 2 small petals. Color (upper side): Redpurple 72A-B. Color (under side): Purple violet 80B. Borne: The longflower stems carry 7-9 and more flowers each on strong, uprightpeduncles that are free standing above the leaves, and that are curvingtoward the center of the plant. Flower habit: Flowers 9-10 weeks afterpotting. Corolla: Compact flower head, free-standing above the leaves.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2) in number. Anthers: Two, composedof 4 cells. Filaments: 5 mm long, yellowish green, with purple at edges.Pollen Color: Yellow 7A. Styles: 7 mm, purple, hairy base of ovary lightgreen. Roots: Normally developed, white when young, turning slightlybrownish when older.

Disease resistance: Good

General observations: Libra has a very attractive appearance through itsmedium green, round girl-type leaves with a light green center. A tightbouquet of flowers on strong peduncles, free-standing above the leaves,is composed of solid purple single flowers contrasting with the brightyellow anthers. Occasionally, 1 or 2 additional small petals developover the 2 smaller petals. The flowers are long-lasting andnon-dropping.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Libra,as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by itssingle solid purple flowers; upright flower stems curving toward thecenter; profuse flowering; vigorous growth habit; very attractivegirl-type leaves, round, slightly serrated with a small light greencenter; and long lasting and non-dropping flowering habit.